Why is the world green: testing top-down control of plant-herbivore food webs by experiments with birds, bats and ants Acronym: BABE – Bird, Ant, Bat Exclosures

Why is the world green? Because predators control herbivores, allowing plants to flourish. This >50 years old answer to the deceptively simple question remains controversial. After all, plants are also protected from herbivores physically and by secondary chemistry. My goal is to test novel aspects of the “green world hypothesis”: ● How the importance of top-down effects varies with forest diversity and productivity along a latitudinal gradient? ● How the key predators, birds, bats and ants, contribute to top-down effects individually and in synergy? I strive to understand this because: ● While there is evidence that predators reduce herbivore abundance and enhance plant growth, the importance of top-down control is poorly understood across a range of forests. ● The importance of key predatory groups, and their antagonistic and synergic interactions, have been rarely studied, despite their potential impact on ecosystem dynamics in changing world. I wish to achieve my goals by: ● Factorial manipulations of key insectivorous predators (birds, bats, ants) to measure their effects on lower trophic levels in forest understories and canopies, accessed by canopy cranes, along latitudinal gradient spanning 75o from Australia to Japan. ● Studying compensatory effects among predatory taxa on herbivore and plant performance. Why this has not been done before: ● Factorial experimental exclusion of predatory groups replicated on a large spatial scale is logistically difficult. ● Canopy crane network along a latitudinal gradient has only recently become available. I am in excellent position to succeed as I have experience with ● foodweb experiments along an elevation gradient in New Guinea rainforests, ● study of bird, bat and arthropod communities. If the project is successful, it will: ● Allow understanding the importance of predators from temperate to tropical forests. ● Establish a network of experimental sites along a network of canopy cranes open for follow-up research.

JOB VACANCIES

PhD positions

Two doctoral student positions (4-year long) funded by European Research Council are available in the Laboratory of Multitrophic Interactions headed by Dr. Katerina Sam for highly motivated students. The laboratory is part of the Department of Ecology, a dynamic multinational centre for interaction network research with regular publications in leading journals. The project addresses interactions between predators (birds, bats and ants), insect communities and plants in at six experimental study sites in Japan, China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and at two sites in Australia. Project will deal with predation rate, removal of insect by predators, predator exclusions, insect communities, leaf herbivory and plant defenses. Specialists (e.g. ornithologists, entomologists, food-web specialists) interested in any aspect of the project are welcomed to apply.We will provide a thorough training in experimental design, laboratory skills, basic and advanced statistical analyses, animal ecology and behavioral ecology. The project will be based at the University of South Bohemia in Czech Republic and at Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic where the students will benefit from interaction with a thriving community of postgraduate students, postdocs of Department of Ecology, and PhD committees either in Entomology or Zoology.QUALIFICATIONSMaster degree from zoology, biology or ecology, a strong educational track record in biological sciences and interest in community ecology. Successful candidates will have very good written and spoken English, will be hard-working and will have very good organization and social skills. We require flexibility to travel to field sites for 3-4 months a year. Candidates should have field-work experiences, either in temperate or tropical forest. All candidates should be able to work in heights, in forest canopies from canopy cranes. Driving license is an advantage. Previous experience with work in any of the countries where project will be conducted is welcomed but not necessary.RESPONSIBILITIESCandidates will be expected to join already funded project and develop a field- or laboratory-based project involving the existing samples or build upon the planned field-work. Candidates are expected to apply for student grants, assist teaching (10 hours per year), attend at least one international conference, publish one paper in recognized journal (IF>1.2), prepare 3-5 scientific manuscripts for publication, and spend at least three months at an internship at foreign university, during the four years long PhD position.Funding NotesThe student will receive a salary which comfortably covers living expenses in the Czech Republic (ca. 700 EUR/month). The salary will be composed of stipend from the University of South Bohemia and part time employment at Biology Centre CAS via funding by European Research Council (2019-2023).ELIGIBILITYThe working language is English and applicants from all countries are eligible. Eligible candidate must already hold Master degree Diploma in a relevant discipline, or the Diploma must be awarded before the end of December 2018 (non-negotiable requirement for PhD study in the Czech Republic).DEADLINESLast date for receipt for application is 30th of November 2018. Interviews with short-listed applicants will be organized between 1st and 15th of December. Final decision will be made on 15th of December. Start of the position is expected for early-mid January 2019.DOCUMENTS (in a single pdf)

The Laboratory of Multitrophic Interactions headed by Dr. Katerina Sam at Entomology Institute of Czech Academy of Sciences (Czech Republic) seeks applications from highly motivated and productive researchers for a two-year long postdoc position to begin in January 2019. Extensions for up to 5 years are possible after the performance review. Successful applicant will join European Research Council funded project BABE: Why is the world green: testing top-down control of plant-herbivore food webs by experiments with birds, bats and ants. The project addresses interactions between predators (birds, bats and ants), insect communities and plants in at six experimental study sites in Japan, China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and at two sites in Australia. Project will deal with predation rate, removal of insect by predators, predator exclusions, insect communities, leaf herbivory and plant defenses. Specialist (e.g. ornithologists, entomologists, food-web specialists) interested in any aspect of the project are welcomed to apply. There will also be opportunities to develop the project in a direction of the candidate’s own choosing. The project will be based at Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic where the applicants will benefit from interaction with a thriving community of postgraduate students, postdocs of Department of Ecology. https://www.entu.cas.cz/en/departments/department-of-ecology-and-conservation-biologyQUALIFICATIONSWe are seeking a highly motivated and productive researcher with a PhD in biological sciences, high quality publications in peer reviewed international journals. The applicant should have experience with organization of field work, either in temperate or tropical forest, and supervision of students. We require flexibility to travel to field sites for 3-4 months a year. All candidates should be able to work in heights, in forest canopies from canopy cranes. Driving license is an advantage. Previous experience with work in any of the countries where project will be conducted is welcomed but not necessary. Funding NotesThe salary of min. of 1500 EUR/month + benefits more than comfortably covers living expenses in Ceske Budejovice [local living costs = 50% of UK costs]. Salary, research activities and field work are fully funded by European Research Council (2019 – 2023).ELIGIBILITY Eligible candidate must have PhD awarded before the end of December 2018 and no late than 3 years before the end of year 2018. Career breaks will be considered and should be stated in CV. The working language is English and applicants from all countries are eligible.DEADLINESLast date for receipt for application is 30th of November 2018. Interviews with short-listed applicants will be organized between 1st and 15th of December. Start of the position is expected for early-mid January 2019.DOCUMENTS (in a single pdf)